United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Kenneth L Dudley

George Nicholas Szatkowski

Truong X Nguyen

Laura J Smith

Jay J Ely

Sandra V Koppen

Chuantong Wang

Larry A Ticatch

John W Connell

Joseph G Smith, Jr

Sayata Ghose

Kent A Watson

Holly A Elliott

Mool Chand Gupta

Donavon Mark Delozier

Marie Woodard

Roland W Lawrence

John J Mielnik

Robin L Cravey

Yonglai Yang

An antenna includes a first electrical conductor that is shaped to form a spiral between its first and second ends that remain electrically unconnected such that the first electrical conductor so-shaped is maintained as an unconnected single-component open-circuit having inductance and capacitance. In the presence of a time-varying electromagnetic field, the first electrical conductor so-shaped resonates to generate a harmonic electromagnetic field response having a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth. A second electrical conductor includes a loop portion overlapping at least a portion of the spiral. The second electrical conductor is electrically isolated from the first electrical conductor. A radio frequency transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy is electrically coupled to the second electrical conductor.

Antenna for near field sensing and far field transceiving

A multi-layer wireless sensor construct is provided. The construct includes a first dielectric layer adapted to be attached to a portion of a first surface of an electrically-conductive material. A layer of mu metal is provided on the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is provided on the layer of mu metal. An electrical conductor is provided on the second dielectric layer wherein the second dielectric layer separates the electrical conductor from the layer of mu metal. The electrical conductor has first and second ends and is shaped to form an unconnected open-circuit that, in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, resonates to generate a harmonic magnetic field response having a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth.

Multi-layer wireless sensor construct for use at electrically-conductive material surfaces

A lightning protection and detection system includes a non-conductive substrate material of an apparatus; a sensor formed of a conductive material and deposited on the non-conductive substrate material of the apparatus. The sensor includes a conductive trace formed in a continuous spiral winding starting at a first end at a center region of the sensor and ending at a second end at an outer corner region of the sensor, the first and second ends being open and unconnected. An electrical measurement system is in communication with the sensor and receives a resonant response from the sensor, to perform detection, in real-time, of lightning strike occurrences and damage therefrom to the sensor and the non-conductive substrate material.

Lightning protection and detection system

A plasma generator includes a pair of identical spiraled electrical conductors separated by dielectric material. Both spiraled conductors have inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying electromagnetic field, the spiraled conductors resonate to generate a harmonic electromagnetic field response. The spiraled conductors lie in parallel planes and partially overlap one another in a direction perpendicular to the parallel planes. The geometric centers of the spiraled conductors define endpoints of a line that is non-perpendicular with respect to the parallel planes. A voltage source coupled across the spiraled conductors applies a voltage sufficient to generate a plasma in at least a portion of the dielectric material.

Plasma generator using spiral conductors

A dielectric material includes a network of nanosubstrates, such as but not limited to nanotubes, nanosheets, or other nanomaterials or nanostructures, a polymer base material or matrix, and nanoparticles constructed at least partially of an elemental metal. The network has a predetermined nanosubstrate loading percentage by weight with respect to a total weight of the dielectric material, and a preferential or predetermined longitudinal alignment with respect to an orientation of an incident electrical field. A method of forming the dielectric material includes depositing the metal-based nanoparticles onto the nanosubstrates and subsequently mixing these with a polymer matrix. Once mixed, alignment can be achieved by melt extrusion or a similar mechanical shearing process. Alignment of the nanosubstrate may be in horizontal or vertical direction with respect to the orientation of an incident electrical field.

Tailorable dielectric material with complex permittivity characteristics

An antenna includes a ground plane, a dielectric disposed on the ground plane, and an electrically-conductive radiator disposed on the dielectric. The dielectric includes at least one layer of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material that collectively define a dielectric geometric pattern, which may comprise a fractal geometry. The radiator defines a radiator geometric pattern, and the dielectric geometric pattern is geometrically identical, or substantially geometrically identical, to the radiator geometric pattern.

Antenna with dielectric having geometric patterns

An electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material includes a matrix of a dielectric or partially conducting polymer, such as foamed polystyrene, with carbon nanotubes or other nanostructures dispersed therein in sufficient concentration to make the material electrically conducting. The composite is formed by dispersing the nanotube material in a solvent in which the dielectric or partially conducting polymer is soluble and mixing the resulting suspension with the dielectric or partially conducting polymer. A foaming agent can be added to produce a lightweight foamed material. An organometallic compound can be added to enhance the conductivity further by decomposition into a metal phase.

Conducting nanotubes or nanostructures based composites, method of making them and applications

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Newport News, VA, United States of America

Kenneth L Dudley